A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) plays a vital role in the delivery of physical therapy, but there are specific tasks that they are not authorized to perform as they require the expertise and judgment of a licensed physical therapist. Documenting patient evaluations or reevaluations is one such task that falls outside the PTA's scope of practice. This responsibility is reserved for physical therapists, who conduct in-depth assessments and develop comprehensive treatment plans based on their clinical evaluations.
The other tasks mentioned, such as establishing or changing a plan of care, writing a discharge summary, and providing treatment while in a management position, are functions that can be performed or supervised in certain contexts by a PTA, as long as they operate within the framework of the plans established by a licensed physical therapist. PTAs can implement treatment strategies and assist in ongoing care under the direction of a PT, but they do not hold the authority to independently handle initial evaluations or significant alterations to treatment protocols.